By: Pieter NelIn the modern conservation discourse, biodiversity loss is too often treated as a passive consequence of external pressures — urban encroachment, climate change, or human presence. Yet, biodiversity is not a static condition of pristine wilderness, but a dynamic outcome of processes that include disturbance, regeneration, and trophic interactions. Nowhere is this more...Read More
By: Pieter NelThe Scientific Mandate for Professional HerdingThe Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) Herding Academy’s role in the Herding and supervised managed herds, has been validated by a four-year case study published by Mudongo et al. (2025). This paper serves as a scientific mandate for our approach, proving that strategic management offers clear economic superiority...Read More
Professional herders play a pivotal role in optimising grazing practices through informed, continuous decision-making based on key metrics: timing, duration, intensity, and frequency of grazing. This strategic approach not only enhances pasture productivity but also contributes significantly to soil health and carbon sequestration.Timing of GrazingThe selection of appropriate grazing periods throughout the year is crucial....Read More
The College and Commonland have joined forces in a new partnership aimed at scaling long-term, community-led conservation and restoration efforts across Southern Africa. By combining the SAWC’s expertise in community-led conservation and restoration training with Commonland’s 4 Returns Framework, this partnership will develop and implement training programmes and materials to help guide holistic landscape management...Read More
In recent years, the concept of inclusive conservation has gained significant attention as a transformative approach to harmonising biodiversity preservation with the livelihoods of local communities. In Africa, where ecosystems are rich in diversity and critical to global environmental health, the success of conservation efforts depends on involving the very people who have historically lived...Read More
